Can-filling machine



c, E. STEERE. CAN FILLING MACHINE.

vAPPLICATION FILEI) IAN. IO, ISI?. I iLLII I Patntd July IIS, 192m.

C. E. STEERE.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. Io, 1911. Lml.

Patented July 13, 1920n s SHEETS-SHEET z.

C. E. STEERE.

CAN FILLINGIVIACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED )AN.10,19|Z,

L34; llh Patented J 1113I 13, 192@ 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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CLARENCE n. sirenes, on MILWAUKEE, wIscoNsiN, AssieNoR To HENRY scan- Boitoucri, on MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

CAN-FILLNGr MACHINE.

illdlall;

Specicaton of Letters Patent. i Patmitml July 113, i920.,

Application iled January 10, A1917. Serial No. 141,537.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, CLARENCE E. Srniiiua, a citizen of the United States ol America, and resident of Milwaukee, Milwaukee county,.VVisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful vimprovement in Can-Fill,

ing` Machines, of which 'the following is a specification.

.provide a continuous rotary and automatic' Amachine of this character which will be's1in- My invention relates to improvements in machines for charging or filling cans or similar vessels with material.

One of the objects of my invention is to ple, durable `and 'reliable iii construction, and effective and 'efficient in operation.

Other objects of my invention williappear hereinafter.

My invention consists in the features"of*` novelty exemplified by. the construction, combination'and arrangement of partshere inafter described, 'shown in the accompanyingdrawings'and more particularly set forth` in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure l is'a substantiallycentral vertical section of an improved canning machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is atop plan view of said machine,v

together with a rotary receiving table which 4l have designed to be used in conjunction with saidmachii'ie. v Y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the upper portion of the structure shown in Fig. Al, e., of the rotary, fillerhead or can-filling unit. f Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional detail suba stantiallyon vthe line it-4 of Fig.. 3;' and Fig. 5 is a lower transverse sectional de'- tail substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig.

lt will be obvious to one skilled in the art,

after having obtained an understanding of my invention from the disclosures hereinV made, that the structure showin and de-` scribed is capableof modification, reconstruction and reorganization without depart-` ing from the scope and spirit of the invention, and l desire it to be s0 understood..

This particular structure shown and hereinafter described, and which constitutes one enibdiment of my invention, is -designed Aand used more especially for charging `or filling cans or similar vessels with peas and beans but the principles involved and 'trinctions performed kare applicable to a wider range of materials by such'reorganization and modification of the structural parts and combinations as is desirable or necessary to adapt .the invention to these other materials. ln other words, the machine is capable of fillingr cans with bulk goods of a more or less solid nature as distinguished from liquids or fluids suoli as is generally known in the canning 'industry as-syrups. xllor this latter purpose l have designed a machine which is embodied in and constitutes the subject matter of a co-pending application SerialNo.

160,471, filed April 7, i917, and which, while capablel of use as an independent machine,

is-especially of value in conjunction with the present machine where the-cans are to be charged with both bulk and syrup. The presentl structure shown in the drawings is vespecially adaptedfor lling cans of the open top type; that is cans which have open end'ssubstantially equal in diameter to the diameter ofthe can itself butit is not nec essary that the openings be that large. It is may be placed in batteries orfbanlrsoccupyinga minimum vfloor area or they may be placedl in close proximity to syruping machines whereby the 'filling operations4 for both solids and Syrups may be continuous. The table top l has a can runway or supporting surface la which is annular shaped and disposed beneath the filling devices and which supports the cans in proper relation tothe filling devices as they are propelled thereby. This supporting surface `lies in a constant level or plane which has a definite and constant relation to' the iilling devices.

lThe cans are successively fed to and delivered or taken from this supporting surface in the plane thereof. A vertically disposed rotary standard or post, which in this case is in the form of a shaft 3 centrally located "with respect to the traine,` rises above the table top l and supports the rotating multior lstandardon an adjustable sleeve 14 which outlets being substantially of the same di-r ple filler head.` This shaft has its bearings in the -table top 1 and in horizontally disposed spiders LLand 5 bolted to the legs or standards 2, all of which provides not only substantial bearingsfor the shaft but which also firmly holds the shaft'in perfect Vertr, cal relation 'to the frame. The shaft is driven by a `bevel gear 6 and a pinion 7 on the end ofa short horizontal shaft 8 having its journals in the frame and in 'a bracket 9. The shaft 8 has a pulley 1() 4whichfmay be driven from any suitable source of power. The pulley is loose on the shaft but is con. nectedwith and disconnected from the shaft ,by a suitable clutch 11 havingjan operating hand lever 12.` Thehub of the gear 6 is journaledl in the spider 4 and the shaft eX- tends through this hub but on account of the fact that the shaft isvertically or longitudinally adjustable, its driven relation to the gear is maintained by a key or spline 12 and slot 13 in the shaft. This shaft has' a collar 13a' fastened to it, which because of the fact that the parts are in their vuppermost adjusted position, is shown as abutting the 4bearing in the spider 4. This collar pro` vides a shoulder for supporting the shaft forms a long substantial bearing for the shaft and which is threaded for vertical adjustment in the spider 5, as shown in Fig'. 1, this adjustment being extremely accurate.

. The upper end of the sleeve i carries a large hand wheel la by` which the sleeve may be conveniently manipulated. It is by means of this simple mechanism that theiinachine is not only adjusted to various sizes of cans,

but also to vary the capacity of the measuring and filling devices in accordance with the size of the cans. At its upper end the central post or shaft supports -and rotates a circular hopper or reservoir which contains the supply from which the individual meas uring devices draw the material prepara- This liopper-in the present machine is in the form of a hollow drum H open at its upper end, it being centrally mounted on but removably Vfastened to the upper end of said shaft.'

The bottom 15 of the hopper is inclined or tapered from.its outer lower edge or rim upwardly toward the center for the purpose of insuring the movement of the material into the several measuring devices, and at the central portionof the bottom a dong socket 16 is provided for the end of the shaft 3. This socket is closed at its upper end and a screw 17 is used for removably fastening the hopper in position.- In addition to this, a key 18 insures a rigid connection between the shaft and hopper for rotating the hopper, all of which is consistent with a general purpose of making the structure such that its various elements and parts can be readilyI assembled and disassembled for repairs, cleaniaaiii ing and renewal. l also make the hopper bottom in 'such manner that the p ortions thereof between the several measuring devices aie pitched or inclined upwardly to horizontal meeting lines or'ridges 19 which between the centersVY of the measuring devices. This construction has several functions ,-it forms individual chutes or guides for each of the measuring devices and keeps the materialv right at the mouths or entrancesv Athereof even to the smallest quantity in the hopper, hence the hopper can be completely emptied. Furthermore, such constructionv not only' `ivides the mass of material and are inthis case disposed on radii midway distributes the load on the several gate valves of the measuring devices, but also prevents. the rotary shifting of the mass of material surrounding these openings are tubular extensions or funnels 26 which constitute the upper sections of the measuring devices, the

amete'r as the tunnels to provide free and unrestricted direct passages from the hopper to the measuring devices. There is also a series of. tubular members 27 which telescope with the upper extensions 26, and the relative adjustment of this series of extensions and tubular members, together with their respectivevalves, determines the measuring capacity of the measuring chambers. The lower ends are contracted, preferably to about the size of the opening in the end of the smallest size can, to form discharge outlets or mouths directly below the measuring The hopper has a pluchambers, whereby the material has practically no greater' distance to drop than the depth of the can. This. further carries out the idea of providing the most direct, shortest possible path for the material from the hopper to the can. A flat flange 28-in` the plane of the mouth serves to cover those cans of the size which have openings larger than the mouths of the measuring devices and prevent any slopping or splashing of the material, but these fianges do not tightly contact with the rims of the cans because in this machine there is no vertical movement during the filling operation of either the cans or the mouths of the measuring devices, the space between s'aid mouths and platen or can-supporting surface being constant. The support for the lower sections or tubular members consists of a horizontal spider 30 having radiating arms for the tubular members, and having a central hub 31 onthe central shaft or standard 3, the shaft, however, being vertically movable in said hub, no drivmember, thepin moving in the hole more orA less according to the vertical adjustment. The sleeve or bushing 33 is carried in a bearing 34n in the frame just beneath the table top l and preferably formed 'integrally therewith and this bearing is ofthe split type which, by the tightening of its parts, operates to firmly clamp the sleeve 33 and thus hold the various parts supported by the sleeve in a, denitely adjusted position, lVhen unclamped in this bearing, however, the sleeve may be supported by a 'collar B5 fastened on the shaft 3 by a set screw or in any other manner to be adjustable if necessary.

llllhen supported the sleeve, as well as the partssupported thereby, will Follow the vertical adjustment of the shaft. ln other words, with the sleeve 33 released from its liiearing and resting on the collar 85, the entire filler head canbe raised or lowered as a unit by the simple operation of' adjusting the shaft or standard 3, as previously described. This simple adjust-ment regulates the spacing between the measuring device mouths and the can runway or supporting surface and determines or fixes the level or plane in which said mouths operate in' laccordance with the height of the particular can or vessel being iilled. llaving adjusted or set the filler head to the proper point, the split bearing is then tightened to firmly clamp the sleeve 33 which thereby holds the cam and lower tubular sections or members intheir adj usted positions. rllhe shatter standard 3 is then again adjusted to move the upper tubular sections or extensions relatively to the lower ones t0 regulate the capacity of the measuring chambers iu accordance with the particular size ot can to which the entire lillerehead was adjusted. All ot these adjustments are' accomplished as before explained, by the simplc operation ot manipulating'the hand wheel.

lille now come to a consideration of the valves which control the filling and discharging of the measuring and filling devices. ln the present machine, there are two series-an upper .and a lower-Tot these valves, the upper series being associated with the hopper extensions ornpper sections, and the lower series with the lower series of tubular members. ln this machine these valves are in the form of 'flatgates or blades 40 and 4l, which operate in horizontal planes transverse to the axessot the measuring chambers; These gate valves enter slots 42 in the walls Vot the tubular tunnels which are just large enough to admit them with suflicient clearance for the proper operation. This construction creates self-clearing or cleaning valve structures because each time the ygate valves swing to open position the edges of the slots scrape olf whatever material may have happened to cling to them. The torward edges 43 of both series are curved to' conform to the curvature of walls ot the measuring chambers. lll/'hen these gate valves are closed, they are intended to completely prevent the material from passing them, but in the case o1 the upper series the closenessto which their edges approach the walls of the chambers is made dependent to a great extent upon the material being han dled. llt the material is fine grained or involves fine particles, then these gate valves are made so that their edges will actually Contact, or practically so, with the walls of the chambers to prevent any leakage whatever past the gate valves. @n the other hand, when ythe particles of material are; coarse or large, as in the case of peas and beans, the gate vali/estare constructed to leave a clearance 4r-4 between their edges and the walls,A this being` for `the purpose of preventing` the particles from actually being crushed and broken between the edges ot' the gate valves and said walls, but it is understood, however, that this clearance is suffi# cient to prevent crushing without allowing the material to pass throi'lgh. The gate valves of the lower series of course do notrequire this clearance, because they are always in closed position before the material4 is admitted to the measuring chamber, and hence they do not have to worlrthrough a column out material in the manner that the upper gate valves do. The upper series ot gate valves are carried on arms 45 which are y *mounted on vertical shafts or spindles Ll?.

The shafts 47 are mounted to rotate in bearings l-S 'which in this case are formed inte- .gral lwiththe hopper extensions, but they cannot move longitudinally in these bear-l ings because of collars l9 above the bearings and hubs of the arms @c5 below the bearings, consequently any vertical adjustment of the hopper will also carry the shafts there with. These arms l5 are keyed to the rshafts to be rotated thereby. The ol4 the lower series, however, are mounted on bellcranlrs which are rotatable independently of the shatts.- The hubs of these'bell-crzinlrs are elongated to ormbushings 50 which are rotatable in bearings in the arms et the spider, but they are maintained indefinite relation to the spider by set screws 51 opliti isoy

erating ingrooves in the bushings 50. T -a relative adjustment of the upper and lower sections of the filler head operates to correspondingly space the gate valves relativey to each other when the capacity4 of the measuring chambers is varied. y y l The shafts 4,7, however, simply lslidevertically in the bushings of the bell-cranks, and thus adapt themselves Vto the adjustment. At their lower ends these shafts carry arms 55 on the ends of which are rollers 56 which ride on the cam surface 59 ofthe large central cam, but the depth of this cam surface is such that even though the rollers 56,0ccupy different vertical positions with respect to the vcam in accordance with the adjustment of the mechanism, their operatingrelation tov the cam is maintained. The

lshort arms of the bell cranks of the lower gate valve lseries have similar .rollers 57 which likewise coperate with a cam surface 58 on the upper portion of the central cam member. By reason of the construction previously described, these rollers 57, however, do not move vertically relative to the cam member when the adjustments with A the Amachine are made because there is no rela 4during the remainder of the revolution the mechanism a curved chute 60 leadingfrom'ja suitable source of can supply. The cans are placed in the chute, onesucceeding the other,

lower gates arev closed. The cans are fed successively, Vby any'suitable means, into the space between the mouths of the measuring devices and the supporting table surface upon which the 4cans travel. In this particular structure I have shown as a feeding and the weight of the column of cans perates to shiftthem in the chute as fast as the end can is removed, the cans being fed to the mechanism in a vertical position with their bottoms resting upon the table surface. Each measuring-device'has depending therefrom a suitable pusher or propelling device 6l, which in this rconstruction-'is simply Aa curved blade adapted .to embrace thefside wall of thecan and propel the canbefore it. This blade is curved, however, on a radius corresponding to that of the curved -wall of This makes a self# the smallestl size can. j centering arrangement for any size can w1thin the rangeof the machine, because the can of larger diameter than the smallest simply contacts with the two .vertical edges 6la of aman@ y 'thepusheig thus causing the can to occupy,

the proper -position with respect to the mouth .of the filling devices. The cans are discharged from the machine. in this structure at a point about three-quarters ofa 7 revolutiontconsidering the direction of ro tation`of the machine) from the point at which' they enter. They may betaken or vdischarged in -any suitable `manner best adapted to the-requirements of the particu- 'lar conditions. In ,the presentstructure I have shown a horizontal rotating table J p5- sitioned at the delivery point andoverlapping the table or can runway, but its surface is made lflush with the can runway surface so that the'cans pass directly from the'supporting surface onto this rotating table.

The table.J rotates in the same direction as the filler head, but as soon as the cans move onto the table J, theyare carried by this ytable andA lshilnted off from the can runway. By this table they may be carried to a syruping machine, such as disclosed in my copending application, hereinbefore mentioned, or disposed of in any suitable manner. In'this machine the table J is driven fromthe central gear 6 by ashaft 6a and bevel-pinions 6", and the gear 6c fastened to said'table.

The gate valves are opened by pins or upj standing rods 62 and 63, which are adapted to be engaged respectively by small studs 61k on the lower gate valve arms and lugs 65 on the arms 55 of the upper gate valves. Reference to- Figs. 3 and 5 clearly shows the relative position of these gate' valve operating mechanisms. The cam surface 59 begins at a point such that it will operate to close the uppergate valves in succession preferably just before a can is engaged by a pusher.

' This cuts ofl' the further supplyl of material from the hopper to the measuring chamber,

this chamber having been previously filled lon the last half of the preceding revolution. Shortly after the, can is in position and 110 starts to -move with its measuring .device the 'upstanding pin 62operates to openv the lower gate valve and permit the measured quantity of material to drop directly into the can. This filling loperation may consume-whatever portion of the half revolution vthe particular conditions require, because the lower gate valves are not closed and the upper -ones opened until the cans land measuring devices have traveled the initial half revolution. However when'the lower gate valve 'rollers reach vthe beginning 58' of cam 58 the lower gate valves close, and shortly after the upper gate valves open b'y engagement with the -upstanding pin 63 and permitthe 125 material to flow or'drop from the hopper into the measuring chambers until the chambers are filled, this chamber filling operation may consumel the whole or vany portion of the remaining half revolution. The lugs 64: 130

here,

and 65 ot' the respective gate valvesengage their respective pins 62 and 63 on the sides thereof and slide free thereof as soon as the gate valves are opened, hence these operating devices adapt themselves to any verticaladjustment of the machine and without special i adjustment per se.

l claim: l

l. ln a can lilling machine, the combination of a frame having a fixed can-supporting table member,v meansfor moving cans on the table member, a vertical shaft supported in said frame, means for rotating the shaft, means for vertically adjusting said shaft, a multiple can filling head -entirely supported `and rotated by said shaft and comprising a rotating hopper and adjustable measuring tunnels, said filling head being vertically adjustable as a unit by the adjustment .of the shaft to adapt the structure to diierent sizes of cans.

2. ln a can i'illing machine, the combination of a trame having a fixed can-supporting surface at a constant level, means for moving cans over said surface, a iotary reservoir, a vplurality of measuringl devices moving with said reservoir and embodying upper members connected with said reservoir, and lower members telescoping to *form variable capacity measuring chambers, individual gate valves associated with said upper and lower members and con trolling the filling and discharging ofsaid measuring devices, a supporting and driving shaft for bodily raising and lowering the reservoir, measuring devices and gates as a unit with respect to level of said cansupporting surface to adapt the machine to different sizes oi' cans, means operable during the rotation otsaid measuring devices Afor individuallyT operating saidvalves, and means for successivelyT feeding the cans to said can-supporting` surface in position for said measuring devices.

3. ln a bulk tilling machine, the combination of a rotary hopper and a series olf measuring devices rotating therewith and embodying a series of tunnels and a plurality of series of individual gate valves in said tunnels, a stationary can supporting table, means lor moving cans over said table, means for bodily'raising and lower ing said hopper and measuring devices as a unit relatively to said table to adapt the machine to dilerent sizes oft cans, and

means for varying, the vertical distances betweenv said series of gate valves to varythe capacities of the measuring devices.

4*. The combination oit ai rotary reservoir having a-plurality of tubular extensions clirectly depending therefrom "and communi# eating therewith, a horizontal rotary gate valve Yfor each extension controlling the passage of material thereinto from the reservoir, an independent series of tubular inemm Sl-flt 5 .bers telescoping with said extensions toA bers, an independent rotary gate valve for each tubular member, means for adjusting said members and tubular extensions and their respective gate valves to vary the capacity of the measuring chambers, Iand mechanism for individually opening and closing said vgate valves in time relation.`

(i. A rotary multiple can lillingimachine comprising a rotating reservoir having a plurality of telescoping tunnels directly communicating therewith, an independent series of individual upper and lower valves For controlling the filling and discharging of said tunnels, means for adjusting said telescoping members to relatively spacev the gate valves of the upper and lower series for varying the measuring ca pacity o'tsaid tunnels, and means for actu-`- ating said gate valves individually in a predetermined time relation. c

7. ln a multiple can filling machine comprising rotary reservoir having a plurality .of depending telescoping tunnels di lrectly communicating therewith, an upper gate valve and a lower gate valve carried with each4 of said tunnels for controlling the filling and discharging of the tunnels, means `tor relatively ,spacing the upper and lower gate valves to vary the measuring ca pacity of said tunnels, means for individually actuating said gate valves in a predetermined tiined relation, and a can pusher associated 'with eachfunncl for propelling canin proper relation beneath the tunnel.

8. The combination oit.r a rotary hopper having depending telescoping tiuinels'dh lltI rectly'conimunicating therewith, a vertical adjustable shaittitor driving and vertically adjusting said hopper, support ior tho lower sections 'of said tunnels mounted on and adjustable by said shaft in unison with I said hopper and adjustable on the shaft to adjust the "sections 'of the `tunnels, a gate valve tor each' upper section` and at gate `valve iter each lower section et said tunnels, `and a central stationary cam mounted on the shaft ltor lactuating said gate valves.

9. The combination of a rotary hopper having depending telescoping tunnels cli-- isc rectly communicating therewith, a -vertical adjustable shaft for driving and supporting said hopper, an independent support for the lower sections of said funnels mounted on said shaft and adjustable therewith in unison with the hopper, gate valves for the upper and lower sections of said funnels, a centralstationary cam mounted on the shaft for actuating said gate valves, and means for adjusting the shaft to raise and lower the hopperwith respect to the lower sections of the funnels, whereby the measuring capacity of the funnels is varied.

l0.y The combination of a rotary hopper having a plurality of tubular outlets, a horizontal gate valve for each outlet, a vertical adjustable shaft supporting Vand rotating said hopper, a plurality of tubular memberstelescoping with said outlets and forming therewith variable capacity measuring cham bers, a horizontal gate valve for each of said tubular members, a common support for said tubular members relatively adj ustableon the shaft, a stationary operating cam on the shaft common to all of said gate valves, and

an adjustable support for the shaft to raise andlower the hopper and the gate valves associatedwith the outlets thereof.

1l. The combination of a constantly ro- -tating hopper, a plurality of measuring funnels rotating with said hopper, a horizontally swinging fiat gate valve moving with each funnel controlling the passage of material,

into the funnel from the hopper, a second 4horizontally swinging fiat gate valve mov,A

said funnels to control the passage of mate- A rial from the hopper to the funnels and from the funnels to the cans, and means for opsaid funnel, and when moved t Acani around which said gate valves and funnels travel for operating said gate valves in predetermined time relation.

14. The combination of a constantly ro tati-ng supply hopper having an annular series of depending measuring funnels, a pair of spaced gates moving with each funnel, a

vertical shaft adjacent each funnel on which the 'gates are mounted to swing horizontally into and out of the funnel, and means disposed in the path ofthe movinggates for 013-.

erating the gates of each pair successively 1n predetermined time relation.

` 15. The combination of a constantly rotating supply hopper having an annular series of depending measuring funnels, a pair of spaced gate valves moving with each funnel and mounted on a vertical pivot to swing horizontally into and out of said funnel,

means disposed in operating relation |to the moving gate valves for swinging the gate valves of eachl pair in predetermined time relation, and a pusher carried by each funnel for propelling a can therewith;

16. In a can filling machine for granular material, the combination of rotating hopper .having a depending tubular funnel, said fune nel having a slot in its wall, a plate mounted on a vertical pivot adjacent said-funnel and forming a gate valve movable through said slot to open and close the passage through hrough the slot into the funnel to leave a narrow space between its edge and the interior wall of the funnel, 'and means for swinging saidr plate.' Signed by me at Chicago', Illinois, this 7th day ofAugust, 1916. q l

, CLABENCEVE.. STEERE. Witnesses:

El H. CLEGG, 5 AMY JEHLE. 

